Over the past several years, candidates affiliated with or endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have won a growing number of Democratic primaries and general elections across the country, challenging establishment Democrats and expanding the socialist movement’s influence. Building on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s historic 2018 congressional victory, DSA candidates have won seats in the New York legislature, while other socialist candidates gained local offices in cities across the U.S.
The movement achieved its most significant breakthrough in 2025, when Zohran Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary and went on to win the general election. That momentum has continued in 2026 with DSA-backed candidates winning congressional primaries in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Colorado, and Michigan—along with mayoral candidates in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Louisville, Denver and Providence, Rhode Island. These successes reflect growing support for DSA candidates who advocate for affordable housing, universal healthcare, stronger labor rights, and higher taxes on the wealthy.
Between The Lines’ Scott Harris spoke with Paul Heideman, author of “Rogue Elephant: How Republicans Went from the Party of Business to the Party of Chaos,” who discusses his recent Jacobin magazine article, “Where Are the Democratic Socialists of America Going?” which examines how the group is successfully navigating the U.S. electoral system, but continues to face considerable challenges in rooting itself in the U.S. working class.
Listen to Scott Harris’ in-depth interview with Paul Heideman (19:54) and see more articles and opinion pieces in the related links section of this page. To subscribe to our podcasts, email newsletters, our Between The Lines Radio Newsmagazine Substack or social media, subscribe here.
